[Relationship between body mass index and leptin levels in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia during and after maintenance therapy]

Abstract

We analyzed the relationship between serum leptin levels and body mass index in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia during and after the maintenance therapy.

Material and methods: We studied 99 survivors (62 boys) in mean age 12.65 years +/- who have been treated for ALL according to the Polish Paediatric Leukemia and Lymphoma Study Group. During the maintenance therapy there were n=34 patients (23 boys) and after treatment n=75 (39 boys). 16 patients received cranial irradiation (12 Gy). We calculated body mass index (BMI) using the formula weight/(height)2 (kg/m2). Leptin levels were measured with the RIA method. The results were expressed as SDS.

Results: 1. No difference was found in leptin SDS and BMI SDS from zero -- in the whole study group, similar in boys and girls. The leptin/BMI ratio was significantly higher in girls than in boys. 2. No differences were observed in the group during and after therapy in values of BMI SDS and leptin SDS. We found higher leptin SDS in boys during (4.86+/-1.01) and after puberty (1.53+/-0.75). We found higher leptin SDS in boys than in girls during (1.6+/-1.1 vs. 0.6+/-0.6) and after therapy. 3. In boys and girls diagnosed before puberty leptin SDS were higher in boys (1.7+/-1.3 vs. 0.2+/-1.7). The leptin/BMI ratio was significantly higher in girls than in boys diagnosed before puberty. 4. We found correlations between leptin levels and BMI in the whole group as well as in boys and girls analysed according to puberty and time of treatment. 5. No differences were observed between patients with and without cranial irradiation.

Conclusions: Anti-neoplastic treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and age of disease did not influence body mass index and leptin level in the examined population.